The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-27
Something to Think About.

Bishop Wilson says or our church In
San Francisco: eve stand listless in the
presence of the $4,000 (Chinese) in this
city, and the ever increasing numbers
elsewhere, with not voice or hand lift
ed to save them.' What terrible words
the pages Of history! More terrible they
seem when placed by the side of DR..
Aliens words Of warning in regard to
the massacre of the Chinese in America.
missionaries are as hostages in the
hands of the heathen, and an attack upon
the Chinese there 10. s. Az places every
one of US in jeapordy."
Had the Chinese, who are taught by
these things to hate America, murdered
the noble men and brave women we have
sent to China, could we who "stand list
less" before the work God has given US
to do here, have held ourselves innocent
of their blood9 I fear not. Again we
shall have to give an account not only for
our "listlessness" toward the Chinese,
but our Indifference in regard to the sal
walton of the many foreign elements of
various religions-the Mexicans, Indians,
and many others-dwelling under the do
minion of our government.
DR.. Strong, in his little book, "Our
Country"-now attracting attention for
its alarming array of facts and figures
shows that if the influx Of foreigners con-
tinues as in the past, in 1900 they will
compose two-thirds of the population of
the states and territories west Of the Mis-
sissippi. He says: "In some cases 100,-
900 to 200, 900 acres in one block, have
been purchased by foreigners of one ma
tionality and religion" 1--WE
may we'll ashland with special reference
to the West-whether this insweeping
immigration is to foreignize US, or are we
to Americanize it?" Again: "Examina-
ton shows that the growth of the Catho-
lie Church corresponds closely with that
of the foreign population, but is some
what more rapid" 4. "But this is
not all. Rome, with characteristic fore
sight is concentrating her strength in the
western territories. AS the west is to
dominate the nation, she intends to dom
mate tho West" But the growth Of the
Mormon religion is still more startling.
DR.. Strong asserts they "now hold almost
all the soil fit for agriculture from the
Rocky Mountains to the Sierra Nevada
"that Is, one-sixth Of the entire
acreage between the Mississippi and
Alaska" He gives quotation from Sena-
tor Colfax showing the officials at Wash
ington are not unaware Of the ambition
of the Mormons to become 80 strong q
political power as some day to rule this
government.
We are rejoicing that the increase Of
our church in the last year has been be-
tween SO, 900 and 1000. In the last five
years that powerful organization has in
creased from $500 to 5000. A paragraph
in the Courier Journal reads as follows
"The semi-annual exodus Of the Mormon
converts from the Southern States to Utah
took place to-day. Chattanooga being
Southern headquarters of the church, the
hundred converts assembled here were
from East Tennessee, Virginia, North
Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. and were
They will be joined by recruits all along
the line to Memphis, and full 200 will
leave that point tomorrow. The elders
state the growth Of Mormonisnl in the
South is marvellous" Please note the
last sentence, and let us ask two ques-
tions: Is our church doing all in its pow
er to save this "profigate, ignorant class"
whose souls the wiles of the enemy are
stealing from our midst? Again, are we
doing as much in the West to save the
victims of this soul killing organization
as they are doing to drag them :
What shall our church do to meet these
alarming issues Of the day? Continue to
"stand listless?" God forbid. More we
must DO than we nave done 10 save the
souls around US. And why, in the name
of the God who has commanded both,
ask, why should we, because we redouble
our efforts to do this work at home, re-
lax one iota in our efforts in the foreign
field? Why should what we do at home
he forever set in opposition to what
should be done abroad? Are the COM
mands and acts of God at tcross-purposes
Verify, no. Our hearts should be broad
enough to see that it is all one grand effort
to cooperate with God in the salvation
of "all the world" that "every creature
may have an opportunity to learn the
way of life. Especially of the women OF
save these souls around US? Shall we
not enter into some combination to aid
and encourage each other in the work
God has so plainly set before us ?-Lncana-
ia B. Helms in Teras Advocate.